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December 14, 2004
I'm thinking to myself, "NO, NO, NO!" but on the outside...
...I'm as calm as.... a liar.
Teeth. Grinding. On purpose. Horrible,horrible,horrible,horrible sound. Let me repeat and be very clear: grinding your teeth on purpose, regardless of age, is never cute, is worse than any fingernail-on-the-chalkboard offense, is chill-inducing and should just not occur.
I would never tell this to Gus, because I know in my heart of hearts the minute he sees me freak out (or the minute he sees me freak out AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN) when he grinds his FOUR teeth together he will decide that it is the most hysterical Mama he's ever seen. And he'll decide that he wants to see that side of me. Again. And Again. All the way until he's fourteen, when instead of strong-arming or charming me into buying him that ultra-hip invisible cell phone that floats above your head (two inches, of course), yes, instead of that he will grind his teeth until I swear I'll get it, just to make him stop.
That's how much I hate it. I hate it so much I stuck my finger in his mouth. I hate it so much I immediately got on and Googled "baby teeth grinding help me" and found out that a) it's normal for toddlers to grind their teeth as it's one way they're discovering their teeth, b) it rarely does major harm (to the toddler, that is), and c) there's another set coming some day anyway, chill the heck out. And John told me he thought we should try to be okay with it rather than react with such fervor as I was. He's right.
So I chilled out. I still got chills when he did it, but I didn't react. Hello, worst acting job I've ever had.
And for all that, he didn't do it today. Phew. I was certain it was the new thing.
Pictures from Gretchen, our neighbor...she's Emily's Mom.
To end my whiney, "I can't handle it" tirade (I know, this is nothin'!), allow me to list the cool things that Gus is doing...and these things don't make me cringe.
Gus doesn't just sign Zeppo when we say Zeppo. He now has taken to signing Zeppo when he's looking for her but can't see her. Language, people, language!
Gus is babbling up a storm... I just don't know if it's Spanish, English or Guslish. I don't care. It's the sweetest, most assured words I've ever heard. I agree with almost all of what he says (except the part about teeth grinding and how it affords him comfort, blah blah blah).
Our nightime routine has really helped Gus get to sleep with little crying, if any at all. He also has a new bedtime friend, Curious George, from Aunt Deb. We asked George to be not-so-curious at night. Let's not encourage the sweet Gus anymore than he is.
Yesterday at daycare Gus did not like what was being served for lunch (very unusual for him), and he let Cristy and Elodia know it. Loudly.
Posted by janna at December 14, 2004 10:59 PM